Karmic Fish

My FB friend, and photographer  Sanjeev Hirudayaraj from the UK,  posted , what I call, a picture with great pathos  showing a bunch of fish in a frozen bin, after being caught somewhere.

This photo almost begged for a comment.  From a vegetarian. Such was the expression in the eyes of the stoic , but dead fish.

It means different things to different folks. To an absolute vegetarian, it is disturbing to see them lying like this, helpless, with their eyes open. Waiting, even after death, for some further mutilation, while some folks  rub their hands in glee at the prospect of a great meal.

I wonder what the theory of Karma says.
 
(photo bt Sanjeev Hirudayaraj)

A lifetime
gambolling
with
quick turns and dives,
in underwater parks,
sometimes  alone,
sometimes with friends,
and sometimes,
trailing the big chaps,
chasing after
real and fake
attractions
in water....

That wilful streak in me
made me bite the bait;
I ascended,
not to heaven,
but to a dingy boat,
where I was summarily flung
into a bin
where I froze
into oblivion;
stupid me,
I walked into a trap with my eyes open.

They say it's my past Karma.

But we fish
dont get over at Death.

Without fail,
all our past Karmas are so bad,
that even after Death,
they cut us up,
singe us,
burn us,
slather us with stuff
and fry us.

Some folks
get memorials and plaques
dedicated to them
in a great hurry;
Alas,
we folks
get someone slurping,
wiping the plate with a Pao,
and saying,
"What a great fish curry !" .

The tough, the endless and the smooth....

My friend Pratibha Phatak, posted some wonderful pictures from her trip to Bhedaghat, in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India.

The place is famous for its incredible marble rocks, that rise up to a hundred feet on either side of the flowing  River Narmada;   the white saccharine limestone is seamed by veins of dark green or black volcanic rock, all reflected in the water.  The Marble Rocks dating back to the pre-Cambrian age, are a gorge along part of the Narmada River’s 1,077 Km (669.2 mi) path through  Madhya Pradesh. The Narmada meanders and later becomes turbulent as it plunges down in a a mighty waterfall known as Dhuandar.

Makes you think. About the past, and future ....

(photo by Pratibha Phatak)

Lives
built upon
the efforts of the past,
one on top of the other;
Some smooth,
some scraggy,
some roughhewn,
with nooks and crannies
created
by events unknown.

Some a result
of past Karma;
Some ,
a result
of present carelessness;
and 
Some,
staying close to the greens
securely wrapped
in the early morning mist.

Through it all,
the only constant,
The River of Time,
flows
unfettered,
meandering,
to its
final destination,
an Endless Sea.

Life Crossings.....

Blogger friend Dhiren aka Hitchwriter was recently the official blogger for the MTB Himachal Cycle race, a difficult trip through the mountains and hills of Himachal Pradesh. Despite being part of a priviledged group that travelled in a four wheeler, observing stuff, there came a time when they had to traverse certain areas on foot, and climb through jungles at night, after finding the bridge below, in pitch darkness.

As he says,

"...this was by far the most eventful two days during the trip... a trek from Tandlu the last motorable point at 11.30 pm on a moonless night trying to cross a river and climb a mountain to reach Janglik at 1.30 am !!!! The trek was shit scaring however no one mentioned anything till we reached. Once we reached we realised that even in 2-3 Degree temperature we were sweating like hogs !!!!!

A super super adventure trek... too bad it was too dark to click pics ! but then something are just in the heart !"

See the other pictures here . 


Naturally, some old lady thinks there is a lesson to be learned......

(photograph by Dhiren)

 

Many crossings in life
(across
difficulties and problems
in full flow
and spate),
are made,
simply,

thanks to 

the age old
carefully prepared
and structured
piles of
"PuNya"***  support
of your ancestors,
regardless
of the
shaky dark paths
ahead of you.......

*** PuNya : Good Karma of your ancestors benefiting you....

Karma

Sometimes bloggers participating in a-post-a day schemes, provide you with a ready canvas for your words.

Swaram already heralds spring in her blogpost, with these wonderful photos of flowers from Kodaikanal.

(photo by Swaram's friend)
A confident worldly father,
a mother by the side,
bending
to adjust her shawl
just so,
the newly pink
young daughter,
dew fresh
in the morning breeze,
they stand,
grieving
behind
the old tired
grandparent,
who having
graced the good
and growing times,
now stands
next to the grandchild,
fatigued,
and
a bit lifeless,
before
slipping away,
returning to dust.

A time to bloom
and
a time to wither,
and
in between,
a time,
to bring joy
to so many
enjoying
their sojourn
in the
Garden of Life….